Five benefits of management training

Managers provide guidance and leadership, they recognise the need for growth and learning and they know exactly how to get the best out of their staff. But just because they have the word ‘manager’ or ‘team leader’ in the title, that doesn’t mean they cannot benefit from additional management training.

It’s important to recognise where and when management training can help you. There are career development opportunities everywhere so you should always be on the lookout for tools that’ll help. Whether it’s a training course to strengthen your decision-making skills or direct mentorship, there are plenty of benefits for yourself and those around you. 

Enhanced decision-making capabilities

Managers are key decision-makers, so what happens when you have a skilled but indecisive leader? What about a seasoned manager who starts making poor decisions based on their belief they always make the right call – even if the results don’t back them up? To overcome these workplace challenges you need to invest in quality management training.

• Training courses focused on problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making training courses give managers a new perspective
• Managers can better recognise when they should rely on evidence-based decisions and when trying something new will help
• If you lean too heavily into a democratic leadership approach (sharing responsibilities too much) you can learn to trust your own personal instincts

A greater understanding of the management role 

Managers are the glue holding a business together; without them, there’s a disconnect between the CEO, board members and general employees. So if your key leaders lack the tools and knowledge to perform their duties, critical work structures will fall apart.

• Management training provides oversight as there’s a clear focus on skills and workplace culture. 
• Leaders can learn how their actions impact direct employees and the organisation as a whole 
• Although managers do gain knowledge through experience, high-quality management training early can help achieve positive results as there’s a deeper understanding of the key skills and capabilities needed for success

Recognition of personal faults

Now, there’s nothing wrong with making mistakes in your professional life, everyone does. And those mistakes are the best learning opportunities. But to learn from them you have to actually take into account any shortcomings and personal faults. There’s no point in being oblivious and thinking you can do no wrong.

• Management training is an opportunity to upskill in an environment where personalised feedback is easy to access
• Skilled professionals evaluate and support managers through transformational periods of growth – something that might not be available on the job
• There’s no bias, either. An external professional is there to give direction and constructive feedback without fear of offending a friend or colleague

The ability to adapt to change

No business is immune to change, particularly staffing change. So when your organisation goes through its own internal upheaval, you need managers who can ride the wave and come out standing tall. 

For example, consider the loss of a team leader and several team members. Someone needs to step up to support the remaining employees while another team leader is brought in. Therefore, existing managers need to be resilient enough to support themselves and others experiencing burnout and stress. 

• Resilience training provides managers with tools to overcome challenges and change, such as periods of uncertainty associated with staff turnover or a major crisis
• These moments are unpredictable; you don’t know how long it will last and you don’t know how it will impact other staff
• Resilient managers can identify new opportunities to improve operations as they have the training and experience to make it through a difficult period at work with fewer distractions

Stronger communication skills

All managers need to effectively communicate, whether it’s overcoming conflict in the workplace or providing feedback to a highly sensitive employee. Knowing what to say, how to diffuse a situation and strengthen workplace relationships are all essential skills involved with effective communication.

• Management training with a clear focus on communication will bring the best out of managers who find themselves struggling to lead a cohesive team
• You can strengthen your connection with employees by recognising how your words impact others
• Look into training courses where soft skills are prioritised. If you understand the benefits of small talk and empathy you can see why employees want a manager who is genuinely interested in their lives and career progression